Safety ski binding

ABSTRACT

Safety release bindings for action between a ski and a ski boot. Means are provided for utilizing muscular stress of the skier and utilizing a preselected value of same for releasing the binding. In certain embodiments, the muscular stress is measured by the bio-electrical output of the skier&#39;&#39;s muscles. In other embodiments the muscular stress is measured by physical movement of the skier&#39;&#39;s foot within or with respect to his ski boot. In one embodiment, a primary measurement is made of such muscular stress while a secondary measurement is made of the stress between the ski boot and the ski, both of said stresses being required to coincide in order to release the ski.

Unite Stes atent 1191 [.11 337,5 Smolka 4, E73

[5 SAFETY SKI BINDING 3,253,588 5/1966 Vuilleumier et al. 340 279 ux[75] Inventor: Thomas Gordan Smolka, P m E B Ifam n H rsh ,A r1 aryxammere 1 e len auer Us na Assistant ExaminerMilt0n L. Smith AssigneelGert-sch g, Switzerland Attorneywoodhams, Blanchard and Flynn [22]Filed: July 6, 1971 [21 A l N 159 789 [57] ABSTRACT pp on Safety releasebindings for action between a ski and a ski boot. Means are provided forutilizing muscular Foreign Application Data stress of the skier andutilizing a preselected value of July 8, 1970 Austria 6161 same forreleqsiggfl hep nqirgalnsertqin em dim ts; the muscular stress ismeasured by the bio-electrical [52] US. Cl. 280/1L35 M, 340/279 outputOf the skiers muscles. In other embodiments [51] Int. CL... A63c 9/08 hemu c lar res is measured by physical movement [58] Field of Search280/11.35 M, 11.35 R, f h ski rs foot within or with respect to his ski280/1 1.35 T; 340/407, 279; 128/21 R, 2.1 boot. In one embodiment, aprimary measurement is A, 2.1 E; 3/ 1.1 made of such muscular stresswhile a secondary measurement is made of the stress between the ski boot[56] References Cited and the ski, both of said stresses being requiredto co- UNITED STATES PATENTS incide in order to release the ski.3,367,672 2/1968 Tonozzi et al 280/ll.35 M 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Flgll'res SAFETY SKI BINDING The invention relates to a safety ski bindingwhich releases the ski boot upon occurrence of an overload.

Ski bindings which are equipped with a spring-loaded lock are alreadyknown. If an overload 'occurs, the lock is released by overcoming asuitably adjusted spring force. While the adjustment is intended to beselected according to the weight and skiing capability of the user, ithas not yet been possible to effect an adjustment which alwayscompletely corresponds to the desired conditions. Further, such anadjustment depends also on the build and the physical condition of theuser and on the condition of the ski path. If the ski path is icy,different conditions exist than, for example, in powder snow.Furthermore the binding will open differently during a slow fall then ifa sudden stress occurs. Additionally, the stresses of the body parts aretransferred first onto the shoe and only then from the shoe to thebinding. The safety release thus depends also on the structure of theshoe.

It has therefore already been suggested to open the binding at the willof the user. A switch for this purpose has heretofore been installedinto the ski pole which upon operation by the skier opens anelectrically responsive binding. In such a unit, it is left to thejudgment and reaction capability of the user whether or not he shouldopen the binding at a given moment. This, of course, often results inwrong decisions. Furthermore, the danger exists that the wires andcontacts which are provided in the clothing of the user tear or areotherwise interrupted and it is also possible that the ski pole becomeslost.

Thus, the purpose of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages andto produce a ski binding in which directly or indirectly the stresses ofthe body parts are sensed and in which, before injuries occur, thebinding is opened by a suitable signal.

This purpose is attained by providing at least one signal sender whichdirectly or indirectly receives the stresses of the body parts and atleast one signal receiver which is coupled with a locking mechanism ofthe binding. Therefore instead of relying for the opening of the bindingon the decision of the user, the stresses are sensed by the signalsender and a corresponding signal is transmitted. If and when suchsignal reaches a preselected value, then a signal receiver provided inthe binding operates the locking mechanism. Thus a binding is producedwhich depends neither on the choice of the user nor on a holding forcewhich must be specially adjusted, but which reacts to the actuallyoccurring stresses of the body parts.

The subject matter is illustrated in form of several exemplaryembodiments in the drawing, in which FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate fourdifferent schematized constructions.

As appears clearly in FIG. 1, the shoe 1 is held on the ski 2 by a heelholder 3 and a jaw 4. Both in the heel holder 3 and also in the jaw 4,there are provided electromagnets 5 or 6, respectively, of which thecores 7, 8 respectively, form spring-loaded locks which normally holdthe bindings in the position of use.

It is already known that bio-electrical currents occur during musclemovements. According to the first exemplary embodiment, sensors 11, 12of known type are arranged on the foot or leg of the user, here the leg9, by any convenient means, such as a bandage 10. Said sensors pick upand respond to these bio'electrical currents and transmit a suitablesignal to the senders I3, 14. Said sensors l1, 12 could also be arrangedin a stocking or the like. The bindings 3, 4 have receivers 15, 16 ofany convenient and known type which are coupled to the electromagnets 5,6. If the impulse has a certain frequency, the receivers operate theelectromagnets which causes the cores 7, 8 to move against the force ofthe springs 17, 18 and thus the heel binding 3 can pivot about the axis19 and the jaw 4 about the axis 20, so that the ski boot I is released.If necessary, one could provide here only one sender which operates bothbindings 3, 4, for example each binding through a different channel.

According to FIG. 2 the sensor 11 is positioned on the sole of the foot9 and is connected to an amplifier 22 through contacts 21 which arearranged on the boot 1 and the heel binding 3. Upon occurrence of acertain stress, for example, of the foot 9 forwardly, the muscles of thefoot sole are also stressed. The sensor 11 again picks up thebio-electrical currents caused thereby and transmits an impulse to theamplifier 22. If this impulse is of preselected value, the amplifier 22operates the electromagnet 5 which moves its core 7 back against theforce of the spring 17. Thus, the binding can pivot upwardly about theaxis 19 if also the second lock 23 is released against the force of thespring 24.

This second lock 23 is adjusted to a relatively small stress. Underspecial conditions strong stresses of the foot sometimes occur whichstresses do not result in a fall and thus not in injuries. However,since the sensor 11 will operate the electromagnet 5 on the occurrenceof a preselected stress on the foot muscles, if such a stress occurs thecore forming the lock will be moved back and cause the heel binding 3 torelease the boot. However, if in a given case no fall occurs, namely theboot imposes little or no load onto the heel binding 3, then the secondlock 23 maintains the binding in the closed position. Nevertheless, ifthe direct load of the shoe onto the binding also exceeds, as alreadymentioned above, a preselected threshold value, then the binding opens.

According to FIG. 3, a deformable hollow member 25 is arranged withinthe shoe 1 and provided with a suitable supply of hydraulic or pneumaticpressure fluid. This hollow member 25 is connected to acylinder-piston-assembly 27, 28 through a pressure fluid line 26. If thefoot 9 is stressed, the hollow member 25 is compressed, through whichthe pressure fluid is urged through the line 26 into the cylinder 27 andthus the piston 28 forming a lock is moved back so that the binding isreleased. The piston 28 can be backed by a spring, or on an air or gascushion 29, which tends to urge the piston constantly forwardly into theillustrated position.

In FIG. 4, two contacts 30, 31 are provided on the boot 1. A furthercontact 32 which is spaced from the contacts 30, 31 is arranged on thefoot 9, for example on a bandage of the foot or on a stocking or thelike. If now the foot 9 moves opposite the shoe 1 so that the contact 32contacts one of the contacts 30 or 31, the circuit comprising a battery33 and an electromagnet 34 is closed and the electromagnet 34, the core35 of which functions as a lock, releases the binding in a correspondingmanner, as in the above-described exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 or 2.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the illustrated exemplaryembodiments. A number of modifications are possible which lie within thescope of the invention. For example, combinations involvingelectricpneumatic or electric-hydraulic systems could be made. It isalso possible to provide a force receiver on the ski or on or in theshoe or the like which force receiver has for example a strainresponsive element and, upon stresses of the ski, shoe or the like,transmits an impulse selected according to the stresses of the bodyparts for opening the binding. Sensors which react to bio-electricalcurrents need not be arranged directly on the respective complex, namelydirectly at the foot, but they can be arranged practically at anyconducting point of the body up to the head or the brain.

I claim: 1. in a safety ski binding which releases the ski shoe worn bya skier from the ski when an overload or stress condition occurs, theimprovement comprising:

at least one signal generator mounted on one of said ski shoe and a limbof said skier and adapted to generate a first electrical signal inresponse to said stress condition between said ski shoe and said limbwhen said ski shoe is secured by said ski binding to said ski;

at least one of the components of said ski binding being responsive toan electrical signal to open and permit a release of said ski shoe;

at least one electrical signal receiver means responsive to saidelectrical signal and adapted to generate a second electrical signal inresponse to said first electrical signal and being connected inelectrical circuit with said electrically responsive ski binding wherebysaid electrically responsive ski binding will release said ski shoe uponthe occurrence of a second electrical signal.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said signal generatorcomprises a bio-electrical sensing device adapted to sense thebio-electrical currents pro duced by said limb of said skier duringmuscle movements and producing said first electrical signal.

3. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said one component ofsaid ski binding includes a boot engaging member pivotally secured tosaid ski and adapted to pivot between a boot engaging position and aboot release position and means defining an electromagnet having amovable core member engageable with said boot engaging member to holdsaid component in said boot engaging position, said second electricalsignal being adapted to energize said electromagnet to move said movablecore member out of engagement with said boot engaging member to permit apivoting of said boot engaging member.

4. The improvement according to claim 3, wherein said bio-electricalsensing device is connected in electrical circuit with a signaltransmitter mounted on said ski shoe, said receiver means being adaptedto receive a signal transmitted by said signal transmitter to generatesaid second electrical signal.

1. In a safety ski binding which releases the ski shoe worn by a skierfrom the ski when an overload or stress condition occurs, theimprovement comprising: at least one signal generator mounted on one ofsaid ski shoe and a limb of said skier and adapted to generate a firstelectrical signal in response to said stress condition between said skishoe and said limb when said ski shoe is secured by said ski binding tosaid ski; at least one of the components of said ski binding beingresponsive to an electrical signal to open and permit a release of saidski shoe; at least one electrical signal receiver means responsive tosaid electrical signal and adapted to generate a second electricalsignal in response to said first electrical signal and being connectedin electrical circuit with said electrically responsive ski bindingwhereby said electrically responsive ski binding will release said skishoe upon the occurrence of a second electrical signal.
 2. Theimprovement according to claim 1, wherein said signal generatorcomprises a bio-electrical sensing device adapted to sense thebio-electrical currents produced by said limb of said skier duringmuscle movements and producing said first electrical signal.
 3. Theimprovement according to claim 2, wherein said one component of said skibinding includes a boot engaging member pivotally secured to said skiand adapted to pivot between a boot engaging position and a boot releaseposition and means defining an electromagnet having a movable coremember engageable with said boot engaging member to hold said componentin said boot engaging position, said second electrical signal beingadapted to energize said electromagnet to move said movable core memberout of engagement with said boot engaging member to permit a pivoting ofsaid boot engaging member.
 4. The improvement according to claim 3,wherein said bio-electrical sensing device is connected in electricalcircuit with a signal transmitter mounted on said ski shoe, saidreceiver means being adapted to receive a signal transmitted by saidsignal transmitter to generate said second electrical signal.